How Much Does Jewelry Engraving Cost? Prices, Methods and Engraving by Mail

At RJS, jewelry engraving starts at $25 per piece, for both direct-to-consumer and retail-partner orders. That price includes preparing the piece before engraving and polishing it afterward, and it can be a single word on a pendant tag or a full phrase inside a ring. ID bracelets also start at $25. Custom designs are quoted in writing after we evaluate the piece.

How much does jewelry engraving cost?

Our engraving starts at $25 per piece, whether you're an individual customer or a retail partner. The price includes preparing the piece before engraving and polishing it afterward.

What's engraved	Price
A single word on a pendant tag	Starting at $25
A full phrase inside a ring	Starting at $25
ID bracelet	Starting at $25

See our engraving services page for what we engrave. Decorative or custom artwork is quoted separately.

Is hand engraving or laser engraving better?

Laser is better for small, uniform text and fine detail; hand engraving is better when you want depth and a cut that catches light. On our engraving services page we explain the difference: hand engraving has depth and a cut edge, while machine and laser work are faster and more uniform.

What affects the price of engraving?

Beyond the starting price, four things shape a quote:

Character count: Longer inscriptions take more time, and symbols and punctuation are part of the layout.
Method: Hand engraving and laser engraving take different time and tools.
Surface: A curved inside band, a flat locket face and a hard metal each need a different tool.
Design: Logos, artwork and custom fonts are quoted separately from plain text.

How much can fit inside a ring?

Less than most people expect. How much text fits depends on the ring size and the width of the band, and very narrow bands may not take inside engraving at all. We confirm what fits when we evaluate the piece.

Write out your inscription exactly as it should appear, including punctuation and date format, before you send the piece. '6.14.19' and 'June 14, 2019' cut very differently.

Can engraving be removed or changed?

Often, yes. Shallow engraving can be polished out and recut, but every removal takes metal off the piece, so there's a limit. At RJS we check the wall thickness before committing and tell you if it isn't safe; see our engraving services page.

How does engraving by mail work?

You request a prepaid shipping label, approve the wording and layout, and the piece comes back once the work is checked. Turnaround is 10–15 business days, and in about 80% of cases we deliver in 5 days. At RJS, pieces in our care are covered under our own Lloyd's of London–insured Jewelers Block Policy. Every engraving job is quoted in writing after evaluation, and no bench work begins until the price is approved. For retail programs, we also handle layout proofing so your customer can sign off on the script before anything is cut.

Read how to ship jewelry safely for repair before you send anything, and see our jewelry repair cost guide if engraving is part of a larger job. If the piece needs polishing first, polishing and refinishing is often done in the same visit.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to engrave a ring?

At RJS, ring engraving starts at $25 per piece for both direct-to-consumer and retail-partner orders, including preparing the piece before engraving and polishing it afterward. At that price it can be a full phrase inside the ring.

Is hand engraving more expensive than laser engraving?

Hand engraving and laser engraving use different tools and time, so each job is quoted in writing after we evaluate the piece. Laser suits small, uniform text; hand engraving gives depth and a cut edge.

How many characters can you engrave inside a ring?

It depends on the ring size and band width, and very narrow bands may not take inside engraving. We confirm what fits when we evaluate the piece.

Can you engrave jewelry by mail?

Yes. At RJS you request a prepaid shipping label, approve the wording and layout, and the piece is returned once the work is done. Every job is quoted in writing before any work begins.

Key takeaways

RJS engraving starts at $25 per piece for consumers and retail partners, prep and polishing included.
Laser suits small, uniform text; hand engraving has more depth.
Character count, method, surface and design drive the price.
How much fits inside a ring depends on its size and band width.
Spell out the exact inscription and approve a written quote before any cutting.

Sources

Pricing: RJS pricing confirmed by RJS (Oct 30, 2026). No external or competitor sources.